Sensor for a continuous biological monitor having nitric oxide releasing compound

Abstract

A subcutaneous sensor for use with a continuous glucose monitor includes a working electrode and a reference electrode. The reference electrode comprises a reference substrate, an ion limiting layer over the reference substrate and a composition for releasing nitric oxide (NO). The composition has a NO release compound, a hydrophilic material and a hydrophobic material. A subcutaneous sensor for use with a continuous glucose monitor includes a reference electrode comprising a composition for releasing nitric oxide (NO). The composition has a NO release compound, a hydrophilic material and a hydrophobic material. The reference electrode is positioned separate from a working electrode.

What is claimed, is: 
     
       1. A subcutaneous sensor comprising:
 a working electrode of the subcutaneous sensor for use with a continuous glucose monitor; and 
 a reference electrode of the subcutaneous sensor comprising:
 a reference substrate; 
 an ion limiting layer over the reference substrate; and 
 a composition for releasing nitric oxide (NO), the composition having a NO release compound, a hydrophilic material and a hydrophobic material. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The subcutaneous sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the working electrode comprises:
 a conductive substrate; 
 an interference layer over the conductive substrate; 
 an enzyme layer over the interference layer, the enzyme layer comprising an enzyme for reacting with in-vivo glucose in body fluid of a patient; and 
 a glucose limiting layer over the enzyme layer that limits an amount of the in-vivo glucose from the body fluid of the patient that passes to the enzyme layer. 
 
     
     
       3. The subcutaneous sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the ion limiting layer of the reference electrode is selected from polyurethane, cellulosic, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or combinations thereof. 
     
     
       4. The subcutaneous sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the NO release compound of the composition is selected from S-nitrosothiol, NONOate, L-arginine, nitrovasodilator or combinations thereof. 
     
     
       5. The subcutaneous sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic material of the composition is selected from polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylic acid, polyethylene oxide (PEO), silane-PEO (Si-PEO), PEO compounds, polyethylene glycol (PEG), or combinations thereof. 
     
     
       6. The subcutaneous sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic material of the composition is selected from polyurethane, cellulosic, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), silicone or combinations thereof. 
     
     
       7. The subcutaneous sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is part of the ion limiting layer of the reference electrode. 
     
     
       8. The subcutaneous sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is a reference outer layer over the ion limiting layer of the reference electrode. 
     
     
       9. The subcutaneous sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is part of the ion limiting layer and a reference outer layer over the ion limiting layer. 
     
     
       10. The subcutaneous sensor of  claim 1 , further comprising a paste over the reference substrate, wherein the composition is part of the paste, between the paste and the ion limiting layer, or part of the paste and between the paste and the ion limiting layer. 
     
     
       11. The subcutaneous sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the working electrode includes the composition for releasing the NO, the NO release compound of the composition being S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP), the hydrophilic material of the composition being polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), and the hydrophobic material of the composition being polyurethane. 
     
     
       12. A subcutaneous sensor comprising:
 a reference electrode of the subcutaneous sensor for use with a continuous glucose monitor comprising a composition for releasing nitric oxide (NO), the composition having a NO release compound, a hydrophilic material and a hydrophobic material; 
 wherein the reference electrode is positioned separate from a working electrode of the subcutaneous sensor. 
 
     
     
       13. The subcutaneous sensor of  claim 12 , wherein the reference electrode further comprises:
 a reference substrate; and 
 an ion limiting layer over the reference substrate. 
 
     
     
       14. The subcutaneous sensor of  claim 12 , wherein the NO release compound of the composition is selected from S-nitrosothiol, NONOate, L-arginine, nitrovasodilator or combinations thereof. 
     
     
       15. The subcutaneous sensor of  claim 12 , wherein the hydrophilic material of the composition is selected from polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylic acid, polyethylene oxide (PEO), silane-PEO (Si-PEO), PEO compounds, polyethylene glycol (PEG), or combinations thereof. 
     
     
       16. The subcutaneous sensor of  claim 12 , wherein the hydrophobic material of the composition is selected from polyurethane, cellulosic, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), silicone or combinations thereof. 
     
     
       17. The subcutaneous sensor of  claim 13 , wherein the composition is part of the ion limiting layer of the reference electrode. 
     
     
       18. The subcutaneous sensor of  claim 13 , wherein the composition is a reference outer layer over the ion limiting layer of the reference electrode. 
     
     
       19. The subcutaneous sensor of  claim 13 , wherein the composition is part of the ion limiting layer and a reference outer layer over the ion limiting layer. 
     
     
       20. The subcutaneous sensor of  claim 13 , further comprising a paste over the reference substrate, wherein the composition is part of the paste, between the paste and the ion limiting layer, or part of the paste and between the paste and the ion limiting layer.